Manchester on hunt for team to refresh Piccadilly vision on NPR opportunity
The city council is looking for a consultancy team to update a masterplan that will underpin the transformation of 370 acres around the city’s main train station into a “world-class, highly productive, and connected destination”.
With city leaders pushing for an underground station at Manchester Piccadilly as part of the planned £45bn Northern Powerhouse Rail, the city council is seeking to refresh the strategic regeneration framework for the area to make the most of the opportunities the rail investment could bring.
Manchester City Council Leader Cllr Garry Bridges said: “We think the time is right to revisit the strategic regeneration plan for the Piccadilly area to see how we can maximise these opportunities for Manchester people and the city’s economy.
“Manchester Piccadilly will be at the heart of Northern Powerhouse Rail and the improved connections it brings – greater capacity, faster and more frequent services. The area surrounding the station has the potential to become a world-class district.”
Work around Piccadilly Central will form the basis of the commission. Credit: via MCC
He added: “This will be even more the case if the government accepts the compelling case for an underground Piccadilly station, which will more land can be used to support jobs and housing – complementing existing initiatives.”
The underground option would “unlock the full potential of the study area, maximising transport connectivity and the long-term economic and social benefits of investment”, according to tender documents for the SRF opportunity.
First drafted by Bennetts Associates in 2014, and updated by the same practice in 2018, the SRF covers the area immediately surrounding the station as well other districts and neighbourhoods including Mayfield, Ardwick, and Piccadilly Basin.
The main focus of the commission will be to update the vision for Piccadilly Central – the area north of the station and stretching eastwards earmarked in the current SRF for 8m sq ft of buildings across residential, commercial, hotels, and retail and leisure.
The appointed team would also be expected to “integrate and harmonise the outputs” of adjacent regeneration areas – such as East Village Central – to maximise their impact.
Manchester City Council is inviting bids for the £250,000 opportunity until 21 October. The contract is expected to commence on 18 January 2027.
